Roy Jay will release his sophomore album, "Fairfax Avenue," on August 31, 2010, via Rock Ridge Music. Laced with blues, roots rock, and grittier, more focused, groove-driven flavors than his past work, "Fairfax Avenue" is the follow-up to "Lucky Guy," an album which ran the musical gamut and drew comparisons to Paul Simon, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Buffet.
"'Fairfax Avenue' is much more the real me," says Jay. "My first album, 'Lucky Guy,' felt like it had sort of a split personality." On his new album, Jay has found his groove, a gritty and bluesy groove that's simultaneously easy-going and laid back, perfectly reflecting the life of the man within. It's an album of self-assured focus, where Jay moves past various influences to become the artist he's always wanted to be.
The sound that reflects Jay's life is one of pure, but hard-earned pleasure and fun; of kicking off your shoes, cracking open a beverage, getting your ass out of your seat and boogieing. It's there in the infectious blues/rock mix of "Love Seed Mama Jump," portraying a life of carefree good times: "Tuesday's at the Rudder/Wednesday's for the hump/Thursday's in the Starboard/Friday's love seed mama jump." The horns sing joyously, the organ darts in and out and the background vocals are contagious, all of it carried by Jay's infectious vocals.
Jay, who is Florida-based, co-wrote all of the music and lyrics on the new record with Chris Seefried (a music veteran who has worked with artists as varied as Quincy Jones and Roseanne Cash). "Fairfax Avenue" also features musical contributions from David Immergluck of the Counting Crows on guitar and Rob Wasserman on bass (who has played with Lou Reed, Bob Weir, and Neil Young, among many others) and co-writing on a track from Tony Lucca.
Jay has a nationwide tour on the schedule for Fall 2010 with the Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers in support of "Fairfax Avenue" (see tour schedule below) and he's more excited than ever about reaching people with his music: "My music is for people who come to a show to have fun and a great time � to sing, dance, party and shake their a**." In addition to hitting the road with Stephen Kellogg for six weeks in the fall of 2010, Jay has toured with the likes of Benjy Davis Project, Jay Nash, Tony Lucca, and Tyrone Wells.
ROY JAY TOUR SCHEDULE:
8/13 - Orlando, FL / Orlando Brewing Company
8/14 - St. Petersburg, FL / The Local 662
8/28 - Isle of Palms, SC / Hotel Carolina/ The Windjammer
Tour With Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers
9/7 - Spokane, WA / The Seaside
9/8 & 9/9 - Seattle, WA / The Triple Door
9/10 - Portland, OR / Aladdin Theater
9/11 - San Francisco, CA / The Independent
9/12 - Santa Cruz, CA / Moe's Alley
9/14 - San Luis Obispo, CA / Downtown Brewing Company
9/15 - Solana Beach, CA / Belly Up Tavern
9/16 - West Hollywood, CA / The Troubador
9/17 - Salt Lake City, UT / The Stateroom
9/18 - Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
9/22 - Houston, TX / HOB - Bronze Peacock
9/23 - Dallas, TX / HOB - Cambridge Room
9/24 - Austin, TX / The Parish
9/25 - Birmingham, AL / Zydeco
9/27 - Atlanta, GA / Vinyl
9/28 - Nashville, TN / The Belcourt Theater
9/29 - St. Louis, MO / Old Rock House
9/30 - Minneapolis, MN / Varsity Theater
10/1 - Madison, WI / The Majestic Theatre
10/2 - Chicago, IL / Lincoln Hall
10/3 - Ames, IA / Maintenance Shop
10/5 - Grand Rapids, MI / Intersection
10/6 - Lakewood, OH / The Winchester Tavern and Music Hall
10/7 - Ann Arbor, MI / Blind Pig
10/8 - Indianapolis, IN / Radio Radio
10/9 - Pittsburgh, PA / Rex Theatre
10/10 - Charlottesville, VA / Jefferson Theater
10/12 - Carrboro, NC / Cat's Cradle
10/13 - Towson, MD / Recher Theatre
10/14 - Boston, MA / Royale Boston
10/15 - Philadelphia, PA / World Cafe Live
10/16 - Burlington, VA / Higher Ground
